Blood, Sweat and Tears Epilogue

"So... teammates, best friends, lovers, life mates, devoted fathers and now Super Bowl champions and husbands. All within just a few months," Tim smirked. Opening his arms, he asked, "What else could life possibly have in store for the two of you?"

Heero and Duo snickered and shook their heads in amusement. The video cameras continued to roll on them as the quarterback shrugged, "I suppose that we'll just have to wait and see. But, I really hope that life gives us a bit of a break for a while." Nodding vehemently to the statement, the running back grinned.

Adorned on their left ring fingers were their glistening wedding bands. On the right ring finger, they wore their gold Super Bowl Championship rings.

Folding his arms, Adam stated, "Now that nearly half of the NFL teams have been revamped after losing players and staff for their use and distribution of Tinopin, it's going to be a whole new ballgame starting next season. Are you looking forward to that at all?"

Without hesitating, Duo answered, "Of course. We've never been ones to back away from a challenge before. And it's always reassuring to know that the games will be played on an even playing field."

Tim stretched a hand out and concluded, "Well, thank you, both, for taking the time to sit with us one last time before spring training starts up in a few months again. Congratulations on your championship on and off the field."

Handshakes and kind words were exchanged and for the last time for a while, the red light on a video camera aimed at the couple went out.

And so was the official mark to a restful off-season.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Carefully lowering a bouquet of weather-resistant flowers onto the snow-covered resting place for Mueller, Alex said a silent prayer. Straightening, he sighed deeply, a large puff of vapor filling the air with his breath.

Dorothy approached from behind and rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I know that he is very proud of you, Alex."

"I hope so," the former running back replied quietly. Looking over his shoulder to his employer, the new administrator for the Pittsburgh Wolverines rested his hand atop of hers. "I'm glad that you're here," he told her.

Her cheeks flushing, the team owner smiled, "I wouldn't be anywhere else."

*   *   *   *   *   *

Blinking in surprise, Duo laughed, "So Dorothy and Alex are officially an item," he announced as he closed his cell phone. "That was Hilde saying that she saw them having a very romantic dinner together hand-in-hand when she and Solo went out to the same restaurant last night."

Heero grinned as he looked away from the road they were traveling. "You know I can actually see them working out," he commented. "I'm glad that Sylvia's found someone, too. She and Evan Meyers make quite the handsome couple as the vice-president of the NFL and the new team owner of the San Francisco Cougars."

Resting his braided head against his passenger seat, the running back sighed, "Yea. And we all live happily ever after."

From the back of the van, Sun called, "Are we almost there, yet?"

As they began climbing the familiar landscape quarterback answered, "The new place is just over this hill, everyone."

The moment that the couple received word that the new estate was completed, they booked a trip to Green Bay to show it to the children. Now that they were finally going to see what the residence looked like completed, they were just as anxious to see it as their family.

Sitting up in their seats and leaning forward, the little ones' wide eyes fell on the huge estate as it came into view. Gasps and whimpers of surprise filled the air as the kids reacted to seeing their new home for the first time.

It was as beautiful as Duo had envisioned and then some. Three-stories tall and sided with varying shades of brick, the estate was a mansion amongst the beautiful and secluded valley surrounding it. In the background, the massive lake's icy coating shimmered in the sunlight only to add to the surreal atmosphere.

Heero brought the car to a halt at the top of the hill to allow the children a chance to take it all in. Looking over to his lover, they shared a loving smile as their family whispered excitedly to one another.

Opening the car doors, the lot piled out and stood close together there.

After a long pause, the running back smirked, "Do you all think that the kids will like this as much as you do?"

Instantly, the youngsters looked up to him in shock, disbelief and confusion. "Kids?" Flora frowned. "What kids?"

Winking over his shoulder, Duo answered, "The kids who are going to be moving in here in a couple of weeks." Slyly tilting his head, he asked, "You didn't think that we were moving here, did you?'

Marcus gaped and sputtered on behalf of his siblings, "B-but this is your dream house. You've put so much into building this."

The running back bent at the waist to be more eye-level with his children as he explained, "It was my dream home because I thought that you would be happy here. Whether it's here, on one of the colonies, wherever you are happy that's where we stay."

Heero folded his arms and smiled, "Your Uncle Quatre happened to overhear a certain meeting of yours to not let your Dad down by telling him you wanted to stay in Pittsburgh. If he had not told us about it, we would have moved here never knowing how you felt."

Small tears were running down the little faces as Duo raised a finger to them and said quietly, "From here on out, even you think it may or may not hurt us, you be honest with your Otou-san and me, ok?" Every head nodded enthusiastically.

Arms wrapping around the quarterback, Jamie smiled brightly, "So we stay in Pittsburgh?"

Easily scooping up his daughter, Heero smiled to her, "That's right."

Tai bit his lip and inquired, "So, what did you mean about the 'kids' moving in here?"

Grinning brilliantly, Duo responded, "This place is going to become an orphanage for more kids that need a good home. Your Aunt Hilde and Uncle Solo will be moving in to run things with a full staff. By the time the extensions are added to the house, we'll be able to house more than eighty kids like yourselves."

"Wow," was all that Flora could breathe, her eyes shimmering. Her siblings all nodded in agreement to the sentiment.

Carefully lowering Jamie back down to the ground, Heero said, "We need to get all of your advice on what we need to get to have the place ready for kids your age. You'll have the first run through the estate, so have a look around and give us your ideas."

Not needing to be told twice, the little ones cheered and ran down the paved hill for the grand residence.

Heero leaned close to his partner and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Resting his braided head on a firm shoulder, Duo smiled warmly along with his lover as they watched their children in a moment of serenity alone on that hill.

Shifting so that he could pull the running back close and look into his eyes, Heero smirked, "Now we all live happily ever after."

"Well said, Otou-san," Duo nodded with a smirk of his own. Leaning in, he stole a heated kiss before leading the quarterback by the hand to follow their family.

On the breeze, there was a notable warmth behind it. On the trees, icicles were dripping in their slow melt under the bright sunlight overhead.

A red robin chirped in the distance.

Spring was coming and training would begin once again.

... but that was the furthest thought from Heero and Duo's minds.

Nothing was about to spoil their moment.

OWARI

Author's Note: I want to give special thanks to my betas and everyone for reading this fic and for the wonderful support. This fic has taken nearly a year to write and I am sorry to see it go as I've become quite attached to it.

Thank you to all of the devoted readers that gave a 'football fic' a chance. It's been a lot of fun! Hope you enjoyed the ride!

Love yas!!! *massivetackleglomps and flower sprinkles*

SkyLark

 

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